Dear Fisherman
Simple Capitalism and Fly Fishing
Chris Higgins: a fisherman, a writer, a business man asked me a question the other day….he said: “Simple Capitalism…tell me more.” That’s all the invitation I needed…
Find his latest writing about Fly-fishing following the answer to his question.
Chris:
I want my life to feel like you feel when you are fly fishing.
Simple Commerce is to directly make and sell an authentic product to people.
I seek authenticity in my person, my work and therefore, my collectors. One person or family buys one painting that only exists because I created it.
Bank notes and financial pressures limit my ability to be authentic. Leverage makes me try to create vanilla sale-able artwork, not special artwork. Mass production to the mass consumer does not excite me. Repetitive products do not fit with the entirety of my goals.
How is this simple capitalism like fishing? You know that feeling when you’re trying to catch that whopper that you know is sitting on the ridge by the weedbed? That one-of-a-kind trout that God made like no other trout? I’m fishing for paintings. Authentic paintings bring authentic people, like minded people.
Those people complete my service, fulfill my goals, and allow the paintings to live on beyond me.
The operation of fishing and painting are similar to all fishermen and painters. But, I am talking about the feeling of fishing and painting. The feeling of eating what you’ve caught. The feeling of a painting hanging in someone’s home.
You cannot accomplish this feeling with farm raised fish or mass produced artwork. You accomplish it on silent mornings, alone.
When you are fishing you feel no leverage, nor do you have any to wield. It’s just you, your wits, your gear and your willingness to hunt fish. I’m trying to make my business feel like that. I’m attempting to be so aligned with my God-given blessings that I attract people with similar values.
While I build that level of acumen, I’m practicing a few things.
I delay gratification as long as I can.
I focus on process before outcome.
I get creative with what I use in my studio and how I live.
I only buy what I can afford. I reuse and repurpose anything I can.
Most of my money goes to paint and board.
I cut out anything doesn’t serve the work.
I make exceptions for my wife and the people I love.
I fail over and over.
I forgive myself for failing.
I do the work. Again and again.
I think more.
I pray.
Many people will read this and say: He’s out of his gourd. It is understandable for folks, real good honest hard-working folks, to think that I am ‘touched’.
To which I say: Nobody gets out of here alive.
I tell you, Mr. Fisherman, that simple capitalism does not work for most people. this world rewards borrowing capital to make wealth. This world rewards scale over authenticity. This world leverages comfort and security, no matter how precarious or illusionary, over originality.
Notice I did not say bravery or courage. I am neither.
I simply see no other way to achieve my goals.
1 Go to Heaven
2 Do simple capitalism
3 Show people they are not trapped
“And be not conformed to this world; but be reformed in the newness of your mind: that you may prove what is the good, and the acceptable, and the perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:2 Douay Rheims Bible
If I am to go to heaven, I must use my God given abilities to glorify Him and serve humanity.
To do so, I must keep the business activity simple. Let my yes be yes and my no be no. Camels. Eyes. Needles. I’m not trying to be rich. I’m trying to have enough to paint until I die.
To serve people, I believe I have to be able to say to them: You are not trapped, brother. You are wonderful. If you choose to use your authenticity to serve the world, you’ll see just how wonderful you are. And you don’t have to go to my extreme, just a little action according to your natural self will reveal more gifts.
How is fishing like simple commerce?
It is like standing in a river with an empty basket and a full heart. Even a bad day fishing is better than the best day trading authenticity for the illusion of safety.
…but it ain’t easy.
I am glad I asked the question. And I am even more glad you took the time to answer the question.
I will take time to digest "simple capitalism" and follow up with questions.
I gave the idea of "simple" capitalism some thought. My comments are neither critiques nor criticsms. Just thoughts.
How I see what you are saying is kinda like basketball. (How and why we met years ago.)
1. The game of basketball has many levels to it. In its simples for its a kids game and its most advanced form its a billion dollar industry filled with the largest and most athletically gifted humans to walk the face of the earth.
2. There are rules to the game and the business of basketball.
3. There are a variety of ways you can participate, even after your playing days are done.
4. But regardless of your place in the game, the higher you go the faster the pace and competition becomes.
5. The great part about it, you can enjoy the game of basketball at any level or simply as a spectator.
Capitalism is a game. The difference from basketball is I think life requires you to participate at some level. The similarities to basketball is that you can choose how you participate, as long as you understand that your level of participation will determine the outcome.
Make sense?